Sassicaia is the founding wine of the Super Tuscan category and the only Italian estate wine to have been awarded its own single-producer DOC, a legal recognition of its extraordinary reputation that was formalised in 1994. Tenuta San Guido, the estate of the Incisa della Rocchetta family near the town of Bolgheri on Tuscany's Maremma coast, first produced Sassicaia from Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings planted in 1944. From the 1972 vintage it began commercial release, and Robert Parker's award of 100 points to the 1985 confirmed its place among the world's great red wines. The estate has remained family-owned and resolutely committed to the classically structured Cabernet style pioneered by its founders.

The 2022 growing season in Bolgheri was characterised by exceptional heat and drought, yet Tenuta San Guido responded with earlier harvesting and shorter maceration times to preserve the freshness and structure that define the house style. The result is a 2022 Sassicaia of surprising elegance for a hot vintage, with the estate's hillside and coastal vineyard exposure providing moderating maritime breezes that prevented the over-ripeness that compromised many 2022 Italian reds. The blend is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, aged for 23 to 24 months in French oak barriques, slightly less than the standard 24 to 25 months, to maximise freshness at bottling.

Five of the world's most influential wine publications awarded the 2022 Sassicaia scores of 94 points or above. James Suckling awarded 98 points, describing an exceptional wine; Wine Advocate assigned 97+, Decanter 97, Wine Spectator 95 and Vinous 94. This convergence of critical opinion at the top of the scale, despite the challenging vintage conditions, confirms Sassicaia's status as one of the world's most consistent and age-worthy red wines. It is a wine that collectors in Asia, Europe and North America compete to acquire ahead of each release, and secondary market prices consistently reflect this demand.

Deep ruby with an aromatic nose of blackcurrant, cedar, iron, Mediterranean herbs, thyme, rosemary and a fine graphite mineral thread. Full-bodied on the palate with chewy but polished tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, precise, herb-edged finish of great complexity and persistence. A 2022 of outstanding quality that will reward cellaring of at least five years. Best from 2030 through 2055.

Plenty of red currant, cedar, iron and terra cotta aromas follow through to a medium to full body with graphite, sandalwood, red currants and fresh Mediterranean herbs. The tannins are chewy but polished. This needs three or four years of bottle age to come together. A structured wine for the cellar. — James Suckling

Tightly coiled and concentrated, with a fascinating tension between the weight of raspberry, blackberry and strawberry coulis fruit and the wine's verticality. Lovely mid-palate sapidity is allied to fresh acidity and fine but dense tannins. A dark horse of a Sassicaia that isn't giving much away today but will greatly reward those who can cellar it for twelve years and more. — Decanter